Kylian Mbappe scored his first La Liga goals for Real Madrid during the match against Real Betis at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday, having been unable to score in three previous encounters since his goal against Atalanta in the UEFA Super Cup. After generating several opportunities in the first half, the French captain finally broke the deadlock in the 67th minute, skillfully directing the ball past the Betis goalkeeper with his left foot following a well-executed back-heel from Fede Valverde. Just eight minutes later, he secured a second goal from the penalty spot and received an enthusiastic ovation as he was substituted for Luka Modric in the 84th minute.
The joy evident on Mbappe’s face stood in stark contrast to the unease that had surrounded him since he scored his first goal and claimed his first trophy in Warsaw on August 14.
This was followed by three league matches in which he failed to find the back of the net, leading to criticism from the Spanish media. In response, coach Carlo Ancelotti defended his star player on Saturday, asserting that Mbappe was adapting well to his new environment. “It is true that he has not scored, but he has been performing admirably and poses a threat every time he plays. I do not believe he is facing any adaptation issues,” Ancelotti remarked, attributing the team’s struggles to a lack of balance.
